Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Cardiovascular Medicine > Arrhythmias > Flashcards

Arrhythmias Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different types of arrhythmias

A

Tachy arrhythmias - fast

Brady arrhythmias - slow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Give examples of tachy arrhythmias

A

Atrial fibrillation

Ventricular tachycardia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Give examples of Brady arrhythmias

A

Heart block

Drug induced - Beta blockers, digoxin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the most common pulse in bradyarrhythmias

A

50bpm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe heart block

A

Slow or no conduction through the AV node to ventricles of impulse from SA node

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What can be seen on an ECG of a patient with heart block

A

Prolonged PQ interval

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the different levels of heart block and how are they classified

A

1st degree, 2nd degree
3rd degree - complete heart block as no impulse is passed to the ventricles
Classified by the length of signal delay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the correlation between heart rate and risk of arrhythmia

A

As heart rate increases, the risk of arrhythmia increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does ventricular tachycardia relate to ventricular fibrillation

A

VT is a precursor for VF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the ECG of a patient with 3rd degree heart block

A

Regular P intervals but they are not necessarily tied to QRS complexes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe how atrial fibrillation appears on an ECG

A

Electrical activity arises throughout the atria rather than just the SA node
Narrow QRS, waves aren’t a fixed interval apart
No p waves as disorganised atrial activity
Irregular pulse - termed irregularly irregular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does atrial fibrillation affect heart rate

A

Rapid atrial impulses conducted to ventricles giving high heart rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does ventricular tachycardia appear on en ECG

A

Broad QRS complex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is ventricular tachycardia particularly dangerous

A

Can lead to ventricular fibrillation and death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What abnormality occurs in the cardiac conduction system in AF

A

Many P waves are trying to get through to the ventricle through the AV node, but the AV node is only allowing a small number through

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What abnormality in the cardiac conduction system causes VT

A

The time taken to activate the ventricular muscle is longer and as soon as it is finished, it starts again
This leads to electrical activity becoming uncoordinated
No coordinated muscle activity to allow the heart to work as a pump

17
Q

What are cardiac pacemakers used to treat

A

Bradyarrhythmias

18
Q

What is the purpose of a cardiac pacemaker

A

To keep the heart rate at a minimum level

19
Q

How is a cardiac pacemaker fitted

A

Box fitted in chest wall on left side
Wires are passed through the vena cava, through the atria, one placed within the atrial wall another placed in the ventricle to trigger ventricular contraction

20
Q

How do cardiac pacemakers work

A

Stimulate heart action by pacing atria and ventricles in sequence

21
Q

Which dental equipment should be avoided with patients with pacemakers and why

A

Induction scalers as they generate a strong EM field

22
Q

What has a theoretical risk of shutting a cardiac pacemaker down

A

Electrical fields such as an MRI or diathermy

23
Q

When is an implanted defibrillator useful

A

Useful for patients with unstable cardiac rhythms

24
Q

Where is an implanted defibrillator placed

A

Subcutaneously on the right side

25
Q

How does an implanted defibrillator work

A

Has wires passing to the heart and will look for evidence of VF
Where there is, it will use a low energy pulse to coordinate the electrical activity and shock the heart out to VF very rapidly

26
Q

What cardiac rhythms should I be able to recognise

A

Sinus rhythm
Asystole
Ventricular Fibrillation

27
Q

In what cardiac arrhythmias do i need to know their clinical presentations

A

Atrial fibrillation

MI

28
Q

What does the P wave correlate to in sinus rhythm

A

Atrial depolarisation

29
Q

What does the QRS complex correlate to in sinus rhythm

A

Ventricular depolarisation

30
Q

What does the T wave correlate to in sinus rhythm

A

Ventricular repolarisation

31
Q

Why is the P wave in sinus rhythm small

A

There isn’t much muscle in the atria

32
Q

Why is the QRS complex in sinus rhythm narrow and large

A

The bundle of His carries the electrical activity to the whole ventricle muscle very rapidly so the muscle contracts in a single unit creating a large electrical signal

33
Q

How is ventricular fibrillation treated

A

Defibrillation

34
Q

Describe ventricular fibrillation

A

No cardiac output
Electrical heart activity but disorganised
Muscle fibres contracting in ventricles at random so there is no emptying of ventricles

35
Q

What can cause ventricular fibrillation

A

Heart attack
Electrocution
Long QT syndrome - can be drug induced
Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome

36
Q

Describe asystole

A

No cardiac output
No electrical activity
Defibrillation not possible
Low chance of survival

37
Q

How can a patient in asystole be treated

A

Treated with adrenaline to try and produce some electrical activity in the heart so that a defibrillator can be used - tends not to be successful

Cardiovascular Medicine (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions